Submarine vessel



Dec. 17, 1929. J, 'PEPPIN 1,740,263

SUBMARIN VESSEL Filed May 2, 1928 Patented Dec. 17, i929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH PEPPIN, OF SCIOTA, NEW YORK SUBMARINE VESSEL Application filed May 2,

My invention relates to submarine vessels and its main object is to provide a vessel of this class which is able to rise quickly from a submerged position to the sea level and to fire a projectile or a torpedo.

In vessels of thisclass, the usual method employed for rising or submerging is to drain or fill a number of water tanks provided wthin thel submarine for this purpose. This takes a considerable time, and as quick ace tion is a very important factor yin modern warfare, the delay in delivering a vital blow to an enemy ship, might be fatal.

l,The aim of the present invention is now to overcome this defect by providing horizontal propellers in the form of helicopters, in addition to vertically arranged iropellers for forward or rearward travel.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide lengthwise running side planes to increase the buoyancy of the vessel when proceeding in the open. These planes are adjustably mounted between horizontal or inclined positions7 that is to say, they may be set either level or forwardly or rearwardly inclined.

In the accompanying drawing one embodiment of the invention is illustrated and Figure l represents a side elevation of the submarine; Figure 2 top plan view thereof; Figure 3 a longitudinal section of a side plane in larger scale, and Figure l a top plane view of Figure 3.

The submarine hull 10 is of any suitable shape or construction. It i-s provided with the usual rudder 11 and driving propeller 12 at the stern and a conning tower or pilot house 13 on top. The hull contains one or more water tanks 111 which are permanently filled to sufficient height to keep the vessel buoyant when the deck 15 is barely raised above the sea level.

Reference numeral 16 represents the motor with a drive shaft 17 for the propeller 12. The motor is also provided with a vertical shaft 18 for the lifting propeller 19, which is mounted above the conning tower 13. The arrangement is such, that the motor may drive each propeller separately or both in conjunction.

' either in longitudinal or transverse direction.

1928. Serial No. 274,439.

Suitable connection 21 is provided between the rudder 11 and the steering wheel 20, which is situated in the connin tower 13 in convenient position for the pi ot. A periscope 22 is furnished for him and a second periscope 23 for the navigator.

In the conning tower 13, which is made as low as possible, and above the deck 15, I place Yone or more guns 24 in the conning tower for firing projectiles or torpedoes. In the simplest form, neither training nor elevating gear is supplied, the direction of firing in that case being controlled by the pilot, but it is evident that both may be provided. In the cylindrical and flat side walls of the conning tower a sufficient number of port holes or windows 35 is indicated.

On each side of the hull 10 is shown a long, narrow plane or skid 25 reaching practically from bow to stern. The planes are supported near the ends on cranks 26 for the pur ose of changing them from horizontal to incllned position, so that either the ends at the bow or the stern may be raised. These cranks are operated from the pilot house by chain drive or other suitable gearing 27.

The planes or skids may preferably be constructed of a plurality of slats or narrow strips 28 placed close together and running r The latter construction has been illustrated and is best seen in Figures 3 and 4. The slats 23 are here mounted on spindles 29 journaled inthe side frames 30. All the spindles are interconnected by levers and rods 31 so as to turn together when a control shaft or main spindle 32 is actuated from the conning tower as by chain or cable drive 33.

The operation of the submarine vessel is performed in the following manner:

Supposing that the vessel is submerged and it is required to raise it to the surface, then the motor is started and the lifting propeller set in motion. The two side planes 25 are kept in horizontal position with the slats 28 95 standing on edge, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 3, when the submarine will rise per'pendicularly. Should it however be necessary to rise in a forward or rearward direction, then the bow or stern ends of the100 

